Exploring the impact of endometriosis on women's lives: A qualitative study in Iran.
Masoumeh Namazi, Zahra Behboodi Moghadam, Armin Zareiyan and 1 others
PMID 33354928WHAT IT FOUND
Iranian women with endometriosis described disabling pelvic pain, menstrual bleeding, marital strain, sexual pain, psychological distress, social isolation, and self-care strategies like heat and traditional remedies.
Key findings
01Women described disabling pelvic pain and menstrual disorders, including severe bleeding, clotting, spotting, and irregular periods.
02Marital life was unstable, with emotional tension with spouses and sexual dissatisfaction, including painful intercourse, reduced libido, difficulty reaching orgasm, and fewer sexual encounters.
03Women described isolation and disruption of daily activities, and they reported self-care strategies including lifestyle changes and pain management.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Findings are from 20 married women with endometriosis, so they may not apply to unmarried women, other age groups, or other countries. The study used a qualitative design, so its themes cannot be generalized. Disease stage was not recorded, so symptom severity could not be compared across participants. Self-care strategies were described by participants, not tested as treatments.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the self-care strategies as tested treatments. The study only reports that some women used heat, water therapy, traditional medicine, exercise, and social activity. It did not test whether these reduce pain or improve life.